New stain-free gel visualisation application of Syngene's G:BOX system helps save time and make protein analysis safer

Cambridge, UK: Scientific Digital Imaging’s [SDI’s] Syngene Division, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions is delighted to announce that the lighting and filter conditions in the G:BOX image analysis system have been optimised to allow faster, safer visualisation of proteins on stain-free gels.

Technical specialists at Syngene tested filter and lighting conditions in a G:BOX XR5 image analysis system to accurately image a range of proteins (2-300ng) run on a Criterion TGX Stain-Free gel. For optimum imaging performance, the gel was exposed to 5 minutes of mid wave UV (302nm) on a UV transilluminator and the gel was imaged using a UV filter and an exposure time of 2 seconds. The gel was then stained with ProtoBlue Safe and imaged again.

The G:BOX image analysis results from the stained and unstained gel showed the linearity and sensitivity of both methods of protein visualisation was comparable with proteins being detected in the 2-20ng range. In fact, with some proteins, the stain- free gels provided better detection limits than the ProtoBlue Safe dye staining. Further details of this research can be found in Application Note 64 on the Syngene web site (http://www.syngene.com/assets/doc/Technical-notes/Stainfree-gels-64.pdf).

Dr. Lindsey Kirby, SDI’s Syngene Application Specialist explained: “Staining protein gels can be a time consuming task as scientists often use Coomassie Blue, which is toxic and requires a lengthy de-staining step. Therefore, if scientists can image their gels immediately after they have run them, this makes analysis safer and more efficient.”

Lindsey added: “This is why we’ve worked to develop the optimal imaging conditions for stain-free visualisation. We’re delighted that our G:BOX technology is capable of such excellent performance in this application because biologists regularly working with protein gels can now confidently use the G:BOX image analysis system for rapid stain-free visualisation without compromising on sensitivity or safety.”